Is inhalable caffeine the next Four Loko?

Tecca

Technology News BlogFebruary 22, 2012

It's called AeroShot, a tiny little 0.01-ounce container filled with caffeine, vitamins, and a hint of flavoring. Its manufacturer markets it as a dry energy shot. But is it dangerous? That's exactly what Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and the Food and Drug Administration want to know.

AeroShot was designed by Harvard professor David Edwards, a doctor who adapted his work on inhaled insulin and vaccines to the energy drink market. The product lets customers trade in foul-tasting energy drinks for an (ideally) less-foul tasting caffeine powder.

When used as directed, the powder doesn't go into your lungs — it's designed to dissolve harmlessly on your tongue. Because of this, its parent company Breathable Foods believes that the AeroShot will pass government muster. But because the product has appeal to kids and teens, and because it could potentially be abused, the FDA wants to take a closer look.

"We need to make sure that AeroShot does not become the next Four Loko by facilitating dangerous levels of drinking among teenagers and college students," said Sen. Schumer.

The government review will determine whether the product is safe, as well as whether or not it qualifies as a "dietary supplement." If you're looking to satisfy your own caffeine addiction, the product is sold at convenience stores, liquor stores, and over the internet for $2.99.